Apricots With Blue Cheese Food

APRICOTS WITH HERBED GOAT CHEESE

Steps:

• Place goat cheese, minced basil, chives and milk in a mini food processor; process until smooth. Arrange apricot slices on a serving platter. Drop goat cheese mixture by teaspoonfuls over top. Sprinkle with salt and pepper; drizzle with balsamic glaze. Garnish with additional basil leaves. Serve immediately.

DRIED APRICOTS WITH BLUE CHEESE

Steps:

• Stir nuts in a small frying pan over medium heat until toasted, about 4 minutes.
• Pour from pan and cool.
• In a small bowl or food processor, beat or process cheeses and pepper.
• Spread equal amounts of cheese mixture on each apricot half.
• Press a nut onto cheese.
• Press cheese-side down into minced parsley.
• Serve cheese-side up on a platter.

APRICOTS WITH BLUE CHEESE

Steps:

• Cut apricots in half and remove pits, place in large bowl.
• Mix oil and lime juice together and season with salt and pepper, pour over apricots and toss gently.
• Place apricot halves, cut-side-up, on cookie sheets.
• Cut blue cheese into small pieces and place in the centre of each apricot.
• No more than one hour before serving place under preheated broil for one to two minutes or just until cheese softens.

BLUE CHEESE AND DRIED FRUIT TERRINE

Steps:

• Mash the blue cheese and mascarpone together with the honey, if using, and pepper. (You can do this in the food processor, too, but it will cream the blue cheese so much that you get a greenish terrine. Not the end of the world, but just warning you.) Stir in the apricots, currants, figs, pistachios and walnuts. Season with pepper. Wrap in plastic and shape into a terrine. Refrigerate for several hours until firm. Serve with an assortment of rustic country breads or crackers and decorate with some whole dried fruits and nuts, if you like.

CHICKEN BREAST STUFFED WITH BLUE CHEESE AND APRICOT

Steps:

• Pound the chicken breasts until thin and even. Sprinkle a little salt and pepper on both sides.
• Place 1/2 and ounce of the blue cheese in the center of each chicken breast and top with 1 T. of the apricot preserves.
• Cut 6 of the dried apricots in half and place 3 slices in the middle of each chicken breast.
• Roll the breasts closed and secure with toothpicks or butchers twine. (I used butchers twine, it's a lot easier.
• Mix the bread crumbs, flour, oregano, rosemary and thyme together in a bowl, then moisten each chicken breast with a little water and roll in the bread crumb mixture. There's no need to completely coat the chicken breast, just a light dusting will do, unless you desire a heavier crust.
• Place chicken breasts in a baking dish and drizzle a small amount of honey on top of each breast. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 45-60 minutes.
• After you take the chicken breast out of the oven, allow it to sit for 10 minutes or so for the blue cheese and apricot mixture to firm up a little.
• Meanwhile, chop the remaining dried apricots into small pieces and place in a small sauté pan with the chicken stock and bring to a boil. Once it boils, add the butter and then allow the mixture to reduce to half. When serving the chicken breasts, pour a little of the mixture on top of each.

CHICKEN SALAD WITH APRICOTS, CELERY, AND BLUE CHEESE

Steps:

• Toss chicken, celery stalks, and 1 tsp. salt in a large bowl. Let sit until ready to serve.
• Whisk buttermilk, vinegar, honey, 1 tsp. pepper, and remaining 1/2 tsp. salt in a small bowl or measuring cup. Pour over celery mixture. Add apricots, blue cheese, mint, and celery leaves and toss just to coat.
• Transfer salad to a platter and season with more pepper.

AMARETTO CHEESE-FILLED APRICOTS

Steps:

• Gently loosen a long side of each apricot, splitting apricots to resemble clamshells. In a small bowl, beat the cream cheese, 1/4 cup almonds, cherries and amaretto until blended. Spoon 1-1/4 teaspoons filling into each apricot. , Place remaining almonds in a small shallow dish; roll exposed cheese portions of apricots in nuts.